jseneca

Hi all
Suggestions on a tight 14 night itinerary hitting both countries? I will be going in late February
Also good suggestions on transport, and from Lisbon to where in morocco?
Thanks, Jseneca

neckervd

TAP has cheap direct flights from Lisboa to Fez and a bit more expensive one's to Casablanca and Marrakech.

Weather2Travel

If you're heading to Morocco, make sure that you tour the country's ancient imperial city of Fes.

A handful of the best sights includes the Madrasa Bou Inania, the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts, and the Chouwara Tanneries, which still prepare, treat, and dye leather in the traditional way. The smell will knock you out but it is worth it.

For adventures outside of the medina, take a wander through the mellah, or old Jewish quarter as well as the palm tree-lined Jardin Jnan Sbil. All amazing!

Something to be aware of, there is no tourist office in Fes, so prepare before you go!

Michael

<i>there is no tourist office in Fes</i>

Difficult to believe. We hired an official guide when in Fez, although that was years ago, and Morocco has a national tourist office.

http://visitefes.com/en/

Av des Aalouites - Fez 30.000
Website: www.visitefes.com

Email: [email protected]
Fax: +212 (0) 5 35 65 01 88
Phone: +212 (0) 5 35 94 24 92

Robert2016

We have to assume someone hasn't been to Fiz, or can't get past the French language (http://visitefes.com/en/)

PalenQ

Suggestions on a tight 14 night itinerary hitting both countries? I will be going in late February
Also good suggestions on transport>

If not driving take trains and buses though trains are good to main cities.

Divide time between Lisbon and Porto areas

Lisbon 4 nights - do a day trip by train to nearby Sintra for fantasy castles and former royal town.

Train to Porto 3 nights

Fly to Morocco -fly home from there.

For lots on Portugal trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Michael

<i>We have to assume someone hasn't been to Fiz, or can't get past the French language</i>

And can't figure out to click on the button that is colored like the Union Jack?

Robert2016

But part of the English language page is still in French when you switch over!

jseneca

Is 6-7 days enough to get a good feel for Morocco? I will definitely pencil in Fes. Should I visit the mountains? I heard Casablanca is not so great
Did you find it to be safe? For some reason I am connecting the country with terrorism. Not sure if that is warranted or not.

Michael

From Fez we took a bus to spend a few hours at the regional market in Azrou. It's a long bus ride into the mountains--probably a couple of hours each way, and if I remember correctly, we left Fez around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m.. A shorter bus ride will take you to Sefrou. In both cases we made sure that we went there on market day.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622870770847/ to the end of the album.

neckervd

You ar3e right: Casa is of no touristic/cultural interest.

Best royal cities (in this order):
Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, Rabat

You will probably not have time for more.

If you prefer smaller places along and in the desert, fly to Ouarzazate and visit the Todra and the Dades Valleys up to Rissani (3-4 days loop).

StCirq

I have been to Morocco a few times, including as a solo woman and never felt unsafe.

I would also skip Casa in favor of Marrakech and Fes, but you might also consider doing what I did on my last trip and hire a driver (it cost me about $US 40 for a very long day), go up into the Atlas Mountains early one morning to catch a market, then on for brief visits to Essouira and Agadir, both interesting places, though it won't be beach weather. It will give you a sense of a different Morocco from that which you'll find in the cities. You might find a driver who could arrange for a 2- or 3-day visit to the south, but I have no idea of what logistics or costs that would entail.

PalenQ

For some reason I am connecting the country with terrorism. Not sure if that is warranted or not.>

Nope have heard of little in those places - average tourist has more chance of being hurt on way to airport than in any terrorist attack anywhere.